Peanut Patch Shows Promise

The annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), held Feb. 20-24 in Houston, brought together thousands of attendees for this annual event, which traditionally generates headlines with new scientific findings, many within the food allergy field.

The preliminary results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase IIb “peanut patch” study led by Hugh A. Sampson, MD, director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at the Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai and chair of FARE’s Medical Advisory Board, suggest a new treatment option may be on the horizon for those with peanut allergy in the years to come. Sampson presented results of the peanut patch (known as Viaskin® Peanut) study as part of a late-breaking abstract.

Using epicutaneous immunotherapy, three different amounts of peanut protein (50, 100 or 250 micrograms) or a placebo were randomly provided to 113 children, 73 adolescents and teens, and 35 adults over…